<P>Tottenham Hotspur youngster Grant Ward has joined Chicago Fire on loan, the MLS club announced Saturday.

<P>Ward, 19, already played for the Fire in preseason and scored twice in friendlies.

<P>Ward, who joined Tottenham Academy in July 2011, had surgery this month to repair a broken bone in his foot.

<P>"Grant is a young, technically-gifted player," Fire coach Frank Yallop said in a statement. "I watched him play in England, and throughout our preseason training camp, Grant consistently proved that he has what it takes to do well in MLS. We look forward to him joining our squad once he has recovered from his injury."

<P>Ward will stay in England until he recovers from his injury, but Chicago expects him to play later this year.

<P>"Grant's injury is an unfortunate one but we fully expect him to bounce back," Fire technical rirector Brian Bliss said in a statement. "We saw the type of player Grant is while he was with us during preseason, and we're here to support and do what we can to help him get back to full fitness so he can join us later this season."